Spies rise up against CIA chief

　　The CIA was in turmoil last night as supporters and critics of its new director fought a bitter and very public war of words over his efforts to overhaul America's main intelligence service.

　　The brash management style of Porter Goss, a controversial appointment when President George W Bush picked him for the job this summer, was under unprecedented scrutiny amid reports of spies' morale sinking to its lowest point in 25 years.

　　Many senior CIA insiders abandoned the cloak-and-dagger tactics of their craft to launch a direct assault on the agency's chief only two months after he took over.

　　Former officials made damning statements at the weekend, apparently acting as mouthpieces for disgruntled serving officers.

　　"It's the worst roiling I've ever heard of," one "former senior official with knowledge of the events" told the Washington Post. "There's confusion throughout the ranks and an extraordinary loss of morale and incentive."

　　"There's no clear direction from Goss," a former official complained to the New York Times.

　　Four former deputy directors of operations reportedly warned Mr Goss of a possible in-house rebellion.

　　Mr Goss's number two, John McLaughlin, resigned last week and Stephen Kappes, the head of espionage, was said to be clearing his office over the weekend.

　　Senator John McCain backed his Republican colleague last night, praising Mr Goss's campaign to improve the CIA's performance against terrorism and denouncing the agency as in need of reform.

　　"This kind of shake-up is absolutely necessary," the influential Arizona congressman said.

　　"This is a dysfunctional agency and in some ways a rogue agency."